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Pair of winless Sprint Cup drivers could qualify for Chase, and other notes from Richmond

September 7, 2012

Some critics of NASCAR's Chase for the Championship format say that if a driver like Kevin Harvick does not even get a win in the regular season, he shouldn't be part of the Chase. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Mitt Romney in friendly confines at Richmond

Some things to ponder while waiting for tonight's rain or the green flag at Richmond International Raceway… whichever comes first: Critics of the Chase for the Championship format are planning another assault next week.

Here's why: it's possible that at least four winning drivers will miss the Chase and two winless drivers will make it. Unless Martin Truex Jr. or Kevin Harvick wins tonight, each will start the Chase 0-for-26, just as reigning champion Tony Stewart did last year. Two-win driver Kasey Kahne almost certainly will get a wild-card spot, plus one of the five one-win drivers, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Marcos Ambrose or Joey Logano should make it. That will leave at least four winning drivers (and maybe five) outside the Chase and two winless drivers in it.

Here's a plan that some find attractive: the 12 winningest regular-season winners make the Chase, plus the highest-ranked winless driver. But don't hold your breath.

Mitt Romney will be preaching to the choir when he makes a quick stop at RIR before tonight's Federated Auto Parts 400.

Most NASCAR fans are Republicans, especially in the sport's Southern and Southeastern enclaves. NASCAR CEO Brian France recently hosted a gala Romney fund-raiser in Charlotte, where team owners Rick Hendrick and Felix Sabates and track mogul Bruton Smith publicly offered their support. Drivers are reluctant to talk about politics or national issues--sponsor concerns, you know--but it's understood that most owners and drivers are Republican.

Officially, NASCAR says it's non-partisan and will welcome viable candidates from any party. Not surprisingly, few Democrats have ever tested that theory.

Around the garages...

Dale Earnhardt Jr. admitted that firing Tony Eury Sr. from his five-year role as competition director at JR Motorsports was doubly-tough because “Pops” is his uncle and long-time friend and mentor.

“But we just felt we had to make some changes,” Earnhardt said Friday. “I was telling Jeff Gordon that the environment [around] our Nationwide team is so different than in Cup. In Cup, you have commitments that stretch over years and you can map a future more than just 12 months ahead. In Nationwide, a lot of programs are structured over single years and you renegotiate each year.

"We felt we wanted to make some changes and do something different to improve our company. We need to do something directional that's different than what we're doing. This is one piece of that. The change with 'Pops' was difficult because he's meant so much to me and my career and me as a person. But at the same time, we want to change our performance level and the culture in the shop and see if that helps us get going in a better direction.”

JR Motorsports' last Nationwide win was two years ago.

Plenty of rumored personnel/team changes are making the rounds: Kurt Busch from Phoenix Racing to Richard Childress Racing, but only if RCR can find a sponsor for a fourth team. If not, Richard Petty Motorsports might be an option, replacing Aric Almirola. … Sam Hornish Jr. staying with Penske Racing for another full Nationwide season, with an occasional Cup start thrown in for good measure. … Danica Patrick wants to join John Andretti, Tony Stewart and Robby Gordon as Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 double drivers. “I'd like to if it's with the right team,” she said Friday. “If not, there's no point for me. If I don't have a shot to win or feel like it's a real opportunity, I'm not going to do it.” … He hasn't denied interest, but team owner Richard Petty won't talk about rumors that he might switch from Ford to Chevrolet and become associated with Richard Childress Racing. It wasn't long ago that RPM said it likely would stay with Ford Racing next year. … No word yet on whether former Roush Fenway Racing crew Bob Osborne will return to a pit box. Illness forced him to step down as Carl Edwards' chief in July, when he was replaced by Chad Norris.